Raging floods have destroyed 35,000 hectares of farmland in parts of Gedo region asfter the River Juba broke its banks following heavy down pours in parts of the region. Heavy rains that lasted close to eight hours pounded the affected areas Sunday night. Some of the worst hit areas include Bardere and Burdubo towns where large tracts of farmland were submerged.
Radio Ergo’s Gedo reporter said Bardere district remains the worst-hit by the floods so far. The floods wiped out farming land of up to 20,000 hectares in 48 villages alongside the river. The affected farms were planted with different vegetables including tomatoes and onions and other crops such as maize, sesame and beans expected to be harvested shortly. “Over 7,000 farming families depended on the farm land damaged by the floods,” said Abdullahi Ali, a member of Bardere’s farmers committee. The floods also washed away 400 generators powering the farms near the river, added Abdullahi.
Meanwhile in Burdubo, the floods affected farmland of over 20 hectares near the River Juba. Around 3,500 families lost their crops in the floods. Hassan Abdi, a father of nine is one of them. “My nine hectare farm where I grew vegetables, maize, sesame and beans has been completely wiped out. I have nothing saved for me,” said Hassan who spoke to Radio Ergo.
Hassan’s farm was located in Suryo settlement, 12 km from Burdubo. This village is among the worst affected areas by the floods. Likewise, Fadumo Mohamed lost her full crop of vegetables and fruits in her seven hectare farm. “I only managed to escape with the generator I had used for irrigating the farm. All my crops have been washed away,” said Fadumo. The floods swept away about a hundred generators used in the district’s farms.
Ahmed Omar/FO/MR
